The Harker Heights City Council will discuss regulations for digital signs in a public hearing today (May 27, 2008) at a 5 p.m. meeting.
The City Council has been discussing placing regulations on LED billboards in Harker Heights for about a month after the Texas Transportation Commission adopted a rule that will take effect June 1.
The rule will allow electronic billboards in a city if the vendor receives a permit from the Texas Department of Transportation, complies with the TxDOT billboard rules and receives written consent from the city where it is trying to place a billboard.
The City Council met with representatives from Lamar on May 20 to discuss the issues people are having with LED billboards.
"By June 1, the new laws come into affect, and my fear is at that point then we will have nothing to protect us," said Ray Shanaa, Harker Heights Planning and Zoning director, on May 20.
Shanaa hopes to set a standard of what features an LED billboard can and cannot use and to regulate other variables, such as brightness, before companies come asking about LED billboards, he said.
TxDOT already has a number of regulations that companies have to meet before the state approves the billboards, said Lamar representatives.
Those regulations dictate the level of brightness during day and night, the speed at which advertisements placed on the billboard can change, and prohibit flashing or moving advertisements, the representatives said.
Cities, however, can change those regulations by adding to their ordinances.
"The consensus, I believe, from the staff and council is that we aren't against LED signs, we just want to make sure we are doing the right thing," Shanaa said.
If passed, the regulations will become part of the Harker Heights Code of Ordinances Chapter 151.
Chapter 151 defines the rules of signage in Harker Heights. It also defines types of signs as well as the fees and permits required by each.
The City Council will also do the following:
- Discuss a presentation from Frederich C. Treich regarding properties located at 309 and 311 Prospector Trail.
- Appoint a new mayor pro-tem.
- Consider the awarding of a contract to JHL Construction in the amount of $88,150 for the expansion of the city hall parking lot.
- The City Council meets in the Kitty Young Council Chamber in City Hall at 305 Miller's Crossing.
